Process of dissolving sodium silicate.



W. H. STANTON 6L J. G. VAIL. PRUCESS 0F DISSOLVING SODIUM SILICATE APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. |913.

Patented My 4, 191?.

nnnnra.. scannen WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. STANTON AND J' AMES G. VAIL, T0 PHILADELPHIA QUARTZ COMPANY,

0F CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS A CORPORATION 0F IPENNSYLVANIA.`

PROCESS 0F DISSOLVING SODIUM SILICATE.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. STAN- 'roN and JAMES G. VAIL, citizens of the United States, residing at Chester, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and use` ful Improvements in Processes of Dissolving Sodium Silicate, of which the following is a specification, reference being had .to the accompanying drawing.

Commercial sodium silicate, which is generally prepared by the fusion of silicous and alkaline materials in a suitable furnace, is a solid material, practically indissoluble in water at ordinary temperatures and under ordinary conditions, butin order to adapt it for use in a number of the arts, it is fre quently necessary to reduce it to liquid form. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in commercially effecting this dissolution in the past, and it has been only possible through the employment of comparatively intricate processes, necessitating the use of expensive machinery in connection with a source of power for operating the same.

The principal objects of our invention are, to provide a process or method of dissolving sodium silicate, or other like material, rapidly and economically; to provide a process or method which is commercially practical on a comparatively small scale; l

which does not require the use of superheated steam, or of mechanical agitation, necessitating the employment of some form or power, and which may be carried out practically automatically at any desired location.

Further objects of bur invention are, to provide an apparatus of novel and simple construction which may be employed in the carrying out of our process, and which does not necessitate the use of power; which is entirely self-contained; which may be cheaply constructed, and which may be readily assembled and disassembled for cleaning or repairs; which does not require agitation in order to effect rapid and thorough dissolution of the sodium silicate, or other material, contained therein; which does not require the use of flexible steam or water connections, and which may be operated economically and eliiciently by unskilled labor. The invention further includes vari- Speciction ot Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application led March 8, 1913. Serial No. 752,260.

ous other novel featui s and objects herematter more definitely specified.

Briefly, our process consists in subjecting commercial sodium silicate or other materail to be dissolved, to the action of any desired medium in the presence of steam or other gas, with or without the employment of pressure` and at any desired temperatures.

For the purpose of carrying out our process, various forms of apparatus may be employed, one form of such apparatus being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichi Figure 1 is a central vertical section thereof, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. I

The form of apparatus shown in the drawing consists of an outer, preferably cylindrical, casing 1, which is provided with a somewhat downwardly curved bottom 2, securely affixed to the casing 1 by means of rivets 3, or in any other desired manner. This casing may be ixedly supported in a preferably upright position, in any desired manner, by means of a suitable framework orV foundation, not shown. Around the upper portion of the casing is preferably provided an annular collar 5 extending somewhat beyond the end of the casing and rigidly secured thereto by means of rivets T, or in any other desired manner. The casing 1 may be provided with a cover l0 which fits upon the upper face of the annular collar 5, which is provided with a plurality of stud bolts 11. These bolts pass through suitable apertures in the cover 10 for the reception of the nuts 12 to secure the cover in place.

A ring of packing 14 may be provided between the opposing faces of the cover arid the annular collar, if desired, and furthermore, the annular collar may be provided with a suitable recess 15 for the )urpose of more securely retaining the pac ring 11 in position. By tightening the nuts 12, it is thus possible to firmly seat the cover 10 upon the packing 14 and secure a tight joint between the cover and the annular collar. The cover 10 is preferably provided with a central circular opening or manhole which may be closed by means of the manhole cover 20, which may preferably be provided slightly on its under side with a plurality of. downwardly depending strengthening ribs 22, and may be removably securednn place upon the cover by a lurality of nuts 25 engaging with the stud olts 26 which are secured 1n the cover 10, and ass through suitable apertures in the maniiole cover 20, in a 4manner similar to that previously described 1n connection with the cover 1,0. If desired, a ring of packing 27 ma similarly be inserted between the lower ace of the manhole cover 2O and the u per face of the cover 10, and one or both aces may be provided, if desired, with a suitable recess 28 for more securely retainingthe packing 1n osition. Of course, it wil be understood t at any other means for removably securing the cover 10 to the casing 1, and the manhole cover 20 to the cover 10, which will permit of the ready removal of either `one or both of the covers and et retain them iirmly 'm position while at t e same time providing a steam ti ht joint, may be adopted if esired. urthermore, if desire the central aperture or manhole ma be entirely omitted from the cover 10 an .the cover so formed as to completely `close the upper end of the casing 1, in which case, of course, the manhole cover 2O and its attaching means would be entirely omitted. Forlthe purpose of affording a ready means of raising the manhole cover 20, a bracket 32 may be securely aiiixed to the up means of bolts 33, or

1n any other desired manner, and may be provided with a lifting eye 35 screwed into a suitable threaded aperture therein, or if desired, a lifting eye may be screwed into a suitable aperture formed directly in the manhole cover 20, or it may be omitted entirely. I

Within the casing 1 is lizgreferably rovided a cylindrical receptacle 38 close at its lower end by a bottom 39, its upper end being left open. The bottom 39, which is preferabl made with a curvature similar to that o the bottom 2 of the casing 1,' may be secured to the lsides of the receptacle by means of rivets 40, or in any other desired manner, or the entire receptacle may be integrally formedof one iece of material, if desired. The receptac e 38, which. is of smaller exterior diameter than the interior diameter of the 'casin' 1, is suitably removably supported withinit e casing so as to leave a smal space 45 between the exterior of the receptacle 38 and all`points-`of the interior of the casingLby a plurality of supports 47 lyin between the exterior of the ottom 3'9 an the interior of the bottom 2, which 'support may be suitably affixed either to the bottom'2 or` to the bottom-39, in any desired manner. Near receptacle 38 and on the exterior thereof larey preferably provided a plurality of other per side thereof, byl

-erably 'tures o considerably the upper end of the pr the apertures 1n the up er screen ap roxi-` tacle as by the rivets 51, which rest against the inner surface of the annular collar 5 and serve to retain the receptacle in an upri ht position. .n

he receptacle 38 is preferably provided in the center of its bottom portion '39 with an outlet pipe 53 extending downwardly through a suitable aperture in the bottom 2 of the outer casing 1, which may preferably be provided with a stuffing box 54, suitably attached by the rivets 55 or otherwise, having the usual gland 56 secured in place and longitudinally adjustable along the pipe' 53 by means of stud bolts 57 and nuts 58 to compress the packing 59 between the inner end of the gland and the stuiing box to effect a steam tight joint between the exterior of the pipe 53 and the stuiiing box 55. The bottom.39 of the receptacle 38 may be provided, if desired, with a reinforcement 60 suitably aflixed to its surface and provided with alsuitably threaded aperture or the reception of the threaded end of the pipe 53 for the purpose of more firmly securin the pi e to the receptacle, or if desired, t e rein orcement may be omitted if the thiclmess of the bottom 39 is sufficient to securely hold the pipe 53.

The central aperture in the bottom 2 through which the pipe 53 passes, is preferably made ofsomewhat greater diameter than the exterior of the ipe, and the upper end of the aperture in t e stuiiing box 55 is referably enlarged to a similar diameter or the purpose of providing an annular chamber 65. A drain pipe 66 the wall of the stuliing box, eing suitab y threaded or otherwise ailixed therein and enters the chamber near its bottom for the purpose to be hereinafter described. Both the-drain pipe 66 and the' outlet pipe 53`ma be provided iiow of liquid theret rough.

"The receptacle 38 'is preferably provided near its lower `end with a plurality of perforated screens 70 and 71, which are suitably supported within the' receptacle. In the drawing, in which two screens are illustrated, thouh a eater or less number may be'employe as esired, the lower screen 70 is shown as being supported turned edge of the bottom 39 -and the uppersereen 71 by a 'downwardly turned peripheraliiange 72, restin upon 'the upper surfacel of the screen 70, ut any other desired method' of supporting the screens ma be adopted. The upper screen 71 is pre rovided with a plurality of aperater diameter than the apertures in the ower screen, and in actlce it has been found Jdesirable to make matelyone-lialf inch in iameter and t e apertures in the `lo'wer screen about one-sixasses throu h with suitable cocks 67 'and 6 for the pu ose of controlling the by the up-' teenth inch in diameter, though, of course, apertures of any other suitable size may be employed.

For the purpose of introducing Water or other liquid within the rceptacle 38, a pipe 76 is threaded in a suitable aperture in the rcover 10, this pipe being connected to some suitable source of supply and provided with a cock 77 for the purpose of controlling the flow of liquid therethrough. A short pipe or nipple 78 is threaded into the inner end of the aperture in the cover 10 and extends downwardly into the interior of the receptacle 38. A pipe 80, also provided With a cock 8l or other means, for controlling the flow of steam or other gas therein is threaded into a suitable aperture in the casing, which may be reinforced at this point by means of a plate 82 suitably secured thereto and provided with a suitable threaded aperture for the purpose of affording a more secure connection for the pipe 80.

The operation of the device is as follows: The manhole cover 20 is first removed by unscrewing the nuts and lifting it oil by means of the lifting eye 35. Through the aperture or manhole in the cover l0 a. charge of sodium silicate or other material to be dissolved is then introduced into the interior of the receptacle 38 and supported upon the upper surface of the screen 7l, the receptacle being preferably filled Within a few inches of its top. Water or any other desired liquid is then introduced through the pipe 76 and the nipple 78 to the interior of the receptacle, which is filled to any desired height after which the manhole cover 20 is replaced and secured firmly in position by nuts 25, and by means of the pipe 80, steam or other gas, at any desired pres'- sure and temperature, is introduced into the space between the receptacle 38 and the casing 1. The steam or other gas immediately surrounds the receptacle and also flows over its upper edge and impinges upon its contents.` quickly raising the latter to approximately its own temperature. and in a very short time effecting a complete dissolution of the solid sodium silicate or other 7' solid material contained therein, Without the CTI necessity of any mechanical agitation either of the contents or of the apparatus. The liquid thus formed may then be drawn olf by means of the pipe 53, as desired, the lower screen serving to strain out any small particles of solid material which might pass through the upper' screen 7l, before said pa rticlcs are completely dissolved. Any moisture which may form by condensation in the outer easing during the process accumulates within the annular space G5 from which it may be drawn off from time to time. by means of the pipe GG. -For the purpose of preventing rapid coiulensation, however, the exterior of the casing l may be surrounded by andA inclosed in an asbestos or other jacket, in the well known manner nonT employed in covering boilers or the like, or such jacket may be entirely omitted as in the drawing.

In order to obtain the most satisfactory results in carrying out our process, it is desirable to maintain the contents of the receptacle in a substantially static or quiescent condition, and for this purpose We have 'found that an apparatus constructed substantially as hereinbefore described may be successfully employed. In this type of apparatus the steam or other heated gas is caused, in addition to surrounding the inner receptacle, to flow over the upper edge thereof and contact With the surface of the contained mass in which it dissolves to some extent. The temperature of the contained mass is thereby raised more rapidly near the top than near the bottom owing to the direct contact of the steam or other gas, so that the creation of convection currents and consequent circulation and agitation of the liquid is either entirely avoided or is reduced to a negligible minimum, at least until the liquid has reached a degree of concentration sufficiently great to substantially prevent reduction in the rate of solution from hydrolysis.

It Will thus be seen that the dissolution of sodium silicate, or other material, in the presence of Water or other liquid, may be rapidly and economically effected by the employment of steam in an apparatus such as We have described, without the necessity for any agitation of the material contained therein either directly, or by the movement of the apparatus, thus doing away completely with the necessity for the employment of power of any sort in connection with the process. Furthermore, the necessity for flexible steam or Water connections is entirely done away with, as the apparatus is preferably permanently fixed in position, access being had to the interior of the receptacle for the purpose of charging the same by means of the removable manhole cover 20, it being unnecessary to remove the cover 10 with its attached Water connection, except when at rare intervals it may be desired to Withdraw the receptacle 38 from the casing.

lt is further evident that various changes may be made in the process which we have described, without departing from thc scope or spirit of our invention, and we especially do not desire to limit ourselves to the employment of any given pressure or temperature of the steam, or other gas, utilized in the process. Nor do we desire to limit ourselves in the carrying out of our process, to the employment of an apparatus such as has been described.` and which forms a portion of thc subject-matter of our invention, since any -foriii "of apparatusA elfotivel u accom, plish. the-ste sfof the-prqces may/.be ployed, and rtheriiiorc,l itwill berervident thatiii ca'se an ap aratus of the general type which we have escribed, is madfnuse poi, thatfnnerous changes invtlie detarilamlconstruction =there`of may be madewithoutg'def partingfrom the spirit' of. the inventicnfcr the sco ofthe a peiided claims. i l Havingy thus-vz cnn invention, what we claimzandd eftc protectJbyfLet.- ters Pawntof-th UnitedStates 1s:--

i 1. EThe process of dissolving a soluble silicatezor the likez'awhich consists in treating a liquid solvent in l.contact .with wranfzeitcess of the solublesilicate with a heatedgasohemi calzly inert toward saidscluble silicate while the liquid 1n-a quiescentfcons litlom' y. il-

12.25; 2. The processV of dissolving an.Y alkaline silicate or the like, which, consists in treating.,a 1i uidsclvent in contact with an excess of; e` silicate with heated .gas chemically linert toward said silicate insuch man ner that circlationis'ininimized. .4 i y The -process`ofdissolving a. 'soluble silicate or the.' like; which consists in heating a quantity of water in` contact withV an ex- -cess of a substantiallyY anhydrous soluble silicate in such manner that the creation of convection currents is minimized.

4. The' process of dissolving sodiuinfsilicate or the like, which rconsists in heating a solvent li uid in contact with an encess of substantia y anhydrous sodium silicatein such manner that circulation is minimized until the concentration of the solution has reached a point suiiicient to prevent reduction in the rateof solution duetchydrolysis. 5. The process of dissolving an alkaline silicate or the like without mechamcal agitation, which consists in covering an excess ofthe silicateccntamed fina suitable recep tacle with water; anduthen surrounding said receptacle with steam iii `such mannenas to raise the temperature of: thecontents of said receptacle tc approximateiythe temperature of said steamrwthout thefcreation of con'- vection.currents..:' A .n 'l i 6. The process offdissolving an alkaline silicate or the like, which consists in heating a quantity of water in contact with an excess of substantially anhydrous silicate in suchmanner that ci-rculatmn is minimized until the concentration :fof 4the solution has reached@ pointsumcient to prevent ireduc.-

tion -in'the rate ofsolutiondiie, 1

L, 7. The process ofdissolving cate or the like, whichconsistsin treating with' steamfa: .quantit tof waterrin contact witlran' excess o'fI su stantially anhydrous sodium .silicate in suchimlanner that circulationlis until the concentration of the liquid has reached a point suilicient to prevent reduction in the rate of solution. 8.1,Theprocess of `dissolving sodium silicate-or the like, which consists in treating water in contact'with 'an excess of sodium silicate with steam while'maintaining the li uid in aq'uiescent condition. 'witness whereof, I, Winmx H..` ST'AN- TON, have hereuntoset my hand and seal thisrd'day of March AnD. A1918. f i I .wmLiAM H f ramon ffm ai Witnesses: Y vt v Fniinniiicm. Bim-mn;

- `Auniixsinimi y. ,A Inwitness whereof, I, Janne G. Van., have hereunto set xn hand and seal this 4th day of March, Allg. .1913.

JAMES G. VAIL. [1.. 5.]

Witnesses:`

GEORGE K. Hmnnn'r, AniixANm'nx Pauli.r4

It is hereby certified that in Letters Pfatent No. 1,138,595, granted May 4, 1915,

upon the application of William H. Stanton and James GQ Vail, of Chester, Penn- Sylvania, for an improvement in Processes of Dissolving Sodium Silicate, an error appearsv in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 4,

line 50, for the words an alkaline read a soluble; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the seme may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oiice.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of May, A. D., 1915.

R. F. WHITEHEAD,

.Acting of Patents. 

